A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Ideas please

about what to do with this little wagon. It's so cute I hate to put it in a closet. I've had it for a few years and have put little potted flowers in the dividers but it's a lot of trouble to keep them watered.

Wet plants and anything out in the weather will tend to rot it.
I'm thinking it could be cute on a porch. I like the gnome in there. I think I would decorate it seasonally. The gnome with dried moss and pretty rocks and/or dried flowers for summer. Dried leaves, twigs with berries or something for fall. Pinecones and colored balls for winter. Change up the figures inside. Put a bunny and some colored eggs in it for spring. Fairies playing in the fall leaves. Just about anything you find in a dollar store that grabs your interest. Your grandchildren would really enjoy the changing whimsy, too.

I was going to say put it out on a porch with a pot with a tray to prevent the wood from rotting--(I agree about that with Tina)--

But upon reading Tina's suggestion, I think THAT would be a fantastic idea----I can esp. see -(in my minds eye)- how you would decorate it for the 4th....

I agree about putting trays in the bottom if you are going to have live plants in there - how about some sedum that don't require much water? I use dragon's blood sedum in many containers. It gets pretty pink flowers too.

I was thinking the same thing....some sort of succulents. You could do an assortment of succulents, actually. Some hang down and trail..you could put those near the front edge. Others grow taller...they could be in the middle. They don't require alot of watering and they like to dry out between waterings anyways. And they are hardy also. Many are hardy to like -20 and even some to -40, so they'd be fine down where you live...you could put it on your front porch if the porch is covered.

That gnome was a gift. Wonder from who????


I've do have plastic trays on the bottom of the pots but sometimes they flow over and it's hard to find ones small enough to sit flat in the wagon.

Thanks for the ideas. If I do the succulents will I have to bring them in for winter?

Cindy, those wheels are made of wood. Cool huh?

You will have to look at hardiness information for the succulents. I have hens and chicks and they stay outside. They are doing very well and we went down to -30 this winter...they were not covered at all. I was at Lowe's this week and they had quite a few kinds of succulents. Some were creeping and some were not. The hardiness for all of the creeping kinds that I saw were to -30 and -40 so, no, you wouldn't have to bring those in for the winter. succulents are actually really easy to take care of. I love them cause they just look weird!

I think I know......

about the plastic trays---go for the terra cotta or the clear plastic ones-(the plastic are about 1 inch high)--OR you could put a disposable aluminum 9 x 13 baking pan down, and put pots in it--that would hold lots of excess water---

and if 9 x 13 is not big enough with a little work you could find a bigger one OR perhaps put 2 say 9 x 9 pans down.---and then a few litle round ones. I wish I were there to show you what I mean----

Sheri - I have many kinds of creeping sedums, such as dragon's blood, and they all overwinter outside just fine. I also have hens and chicks. and lots of prickly pear cacti which overwinter outdoor here as well. Since you are in a warmer zone I'm sure any of those would do well for you there.

The more "fleshy" succulents do not overwinter here - they get mushy when they freeze and die. Those would have to be brought in, but again you are in a warmer zone there so you could check and see, if those are the kinds you are intereted in.

Sheri from the photo I thought the dividers went all the way to the bottom so that you couldn't put one large pan inside? Is that true or do they slide out?


Merme

the dividers don't come out. I can't put a pan on the bottom. The reason I wanted to get away from plants is that the areas are so small I can't get a try to sit flat in the divider and have a pot big enough to see out of the top. Does that make sense. Little pots/little trays. But the little pots are too little. I got sick of taking them out and watering and letting drain. succulents will work better though because of not much watering. Do you have another idea? The wagon is so darn cute I hate not to sit it out.

Jenn has graciously said she is sending me hens and chicks.

That wagon is so darn cute and whimsical, I wouldn't put plants in it. I'd go the other way...

I'd put a collection of colorful balls (heaped up) in one section. Small sailboats sticking up every which way in another. A couple of dolls in another. Rackets and bats standing in another. And so on... the whimsey of childhood.... what is precious to a kid to cart around in a wagon?

Merme

I like that idea, Merme!

that is a good idea Merme. I think I'm going to do a combination of hens and chicks and little balls if I can find them.